GUAGUA -- Mayor Dante Torres and officers of the Municipal Government confiscated 10 defective weighing scales as part of the town's effort to revamp the operations of the Guagua Public Market.

Torres personally led the inspection of market stalls as municipal officers checked on the integrity of the weighing scales used by local vendors.

Based on Article 61 Chapter II of the Consumer Act of the Philippines, "the provincial, city or municipal treasurers shall strictly enforce the provisions of this chapter and its implementing rules and regulations."

Under the same article, the town is mandated to enforce the use of the metric system.

Town officers also reminded the vendors and buyers of the rights and responsibilities of consumers under Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Torres said that defective weighing scales are confiscated to protect buyers, especially in public markets.

The mayor was joined by market officers in inspecting the weighing scales and have instructed that uncalibrated ones be confiscated.

Guagua Public Market is the biggest public market in Pampanga and serves the needs of most of the towns of the second district. The public market also has a fish port and processes the main fish supplies for west Pampanga.

Torres said he had ordered the town-wide inspection in accordance with pertinent laws.

He said consumers should not be cheated of the things they buy from vendors and sellers in his town.

The mayor also ordered that the scales be checked regularly and that erring vendors and sellers be meted with the proper penalties.